The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has announced a temporary halt to recreational bay scallop harvesting in the Pasco Zone. This region covers all state waters south of the Hernando-Pasco county line and north of the Anclote Key Lighthouse in northern Pinellas County, including the Anclote River.
According to the FWC, this action is being taken as a precaution after tests found levels of saxitoxin and Pyrodinium bahamense above safety standards set by the National Shellfish Sanitation Program. The closure will remain until further testing confirms that toxin levels have dropped to safe limits.
“The FWC is tasked with proactively testing and acting to keep residents and visitors safe,” said the agency in its announcement. “This precautionary measure is due to the detection of saxitoxin and Pyrodinium bahamense at levels exceeding the safety thresholds established by the National Shellfish Sanitation Program. The Pasco Zone may reopen for scallop harvesting once tests show levels have decreased to safe limits.”
While scallop harvesting is suspended in this area, other activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming are still permitted. Scallop harvest zones outside of Pasco continue normal operations.
Updates on this situation can be found at MyFWC.com/Scallops. Further information about Pyrodinium bahamense is available through the FWC’s factsheet.
